A giddy newcomer and seasoned bird-watcher finds a wildlife bonanza here on the Gulf Coast.
- story by Dena Temple

Black Skimmer feeds by dragging its lower mandible through the water, trolling for fish.
​

“Tu-a-wee!” A flock of Eastern Bluebirds frolicked in the front yard.
 
Yes, we are birders. Bird-brains. Bird nerds! In fact, our fascination with feathered fauna helped drive our southern migration. And as birders, we weren’t looking for a home so much as a “habitat.”

​​The pretty brick house on the tracks in Waveland fit the bill perfectly – lots of land bordered by dense woods, near a bayou. We signed the papers just before Thanksgiving, and by Turkey Day we were unpacking our binoculars and setting up feeding stations.
 
We’re also a little competitive. And by “little,” I mean very. We compete with other bird nerds to see how many species of birds we can ID in our yards. We re-started our 2018 list when we moved to Waveland – and by the time the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, our list stood at an astounding 52 species. In five weeks!

​While all seasons along the Coast provide excellent opportunities for wildlife-watching, perhaps the best kept secret is the diversity here in the winter.
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Joining the resident species of the Gulf are thousands of birds that spend their summers breeding farther north. As lakes and bays freeze over, species that rely on aquatic habitat are forced to head south.
 
In addition, land birds that eat insects must migrate to follow the food source. So, while spring and fall offer the best variety because of the migratory birds passing along the Mississippi Flyway, winter birding delights savvy Gulf Coast residents who are “in the know.” 
​

​​Gulls, terns and particularly shorebirds flock to the Gulf beaches, much like our snowbirds do, for the Gulf’s agreeable climate and excellent dining. Everyone eats seafood along the Coast!
 
Ducks, too, migrate south for the winter. Many only go as far as necessary to find unfrozen water, so they can find food. Some, however, make their way to our coastline and local ponds.
 
Commonly seen from our beaches are Bufflehead, tiny black ducks with white bonnet-like caps, and Common Loons, looking drab in their “basic” winter plumage.
 

​One of my favorite places to look for birds is the Washington Street Pier in Bay St. Louis. What makes any location excellent for birds is habitat diversity, and this spot has it.
 
Along the beach you’ll see lots of terns, gulls and shorebirds. Try to pick out the Willet, a large shorebird with drab, brown plumage – until he flies, revealing a distinctive and brilliant white wing stripe.

​​Walking to the end of the pier, scan the water for the aforementioned ducks, along with Horned Grebes, which are common in the Sound in the winter, and Red-breasted Mergansers, ducks with a distinctive dagger-like bill. 
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​​Next, scan the rocks at the pier for Ruddy Turnstone, a medium-sized shorebird with orange legs and an unusually patterned chest. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and spot a Purple Sandpiper in the rocks, a rare visitor from the North.
 
While you’re out there, scan the distant skies for the beautiful white Northern Gannett, a large, graceful booby-like bird that nests on island cliffs but spends its entire winter over the water.
 
Back on land, patiently check the dune grass for birds like Marsh Wren, sparrows and Scaly-breasted Munia, a non-native, pet-shop escapee that has been spotted here recently.
 
There are many places along the Gulf Coast where beginners and pros alike can enjoy looking at, and learning about, birds. 
​

​A great source is the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society, which hosts mostly free field trips to various locations in the area. Attending one of these trips is a great way to meet like-minded people, increase your local knowledge, and learn about conservation and habitat protection.
 
If you’d rather strike out on your own, you can find information on the website for the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail . The website identifies more than 40 prime birding locations in the six southern counties of Mississippi. It’s a great resource, and I’ll be working my way through that list myself.
 
If you are the type who likes to volunteer, there are opportunities through both MCAS and the National Audubon Society for winter shorebird monitoring.
 
Also coming up February 15-19 is the Great Backyard Bird Count, which encourages individuals to count birds in their own backyards (or a local park or hotspot), then report your findings online through a special website, www.birdsource.org. The event is held over Presidents Day weekend, which may give you an extra day to venture out and enjoy what our area has to offer.

Get to know the very savvy businesswoman behind the glitter, the tutus, and the multiple tiaras - a design diva who never stops evolving. 
​- story by Trish McAlvain

Most know her as the hostess of her own series, the internet sensation “MS Congeniality.” Jaimee started “MS Congeniality” with a mission to defy the image of the typical Mississippian. Every Wednesday another webisode is released. It is a fresh, spunky spin of life in the state, always filmed live with Jaimee interviewing fascinating people living and doing cool things.

In 2017, Mississippi celebrates 200 years of statehood. Jaimee is the face of "Miss Issippi" as Mississippi Bicentennial Hostess. Miss Issippi was a character drawn up in 1917 to represent Mississippi during the state's 100th birthday celebration. Although the centennial festivities were ultimately canceled because of the First World War, Miss Issippi still paraded around the state in costume.
 
When state bicentennial historians gathered to speak of the mascot chosen 100 years ago, it was decided to have an updated version. Who better to fill those shoes than MS Congeniality? Everyone agreed that Jaimee was the perfect choice.
 
Jaimee hopes to always be completely approachable to the public in her role as Miss Issippi. "Ask me anything, I'll tell the truth. I hope I don't intimidate you.

She comes by her titles naturally. Jaimee was born in Bay St. Louis to Dottie and Daniel Goad, who are celebrating 43 years of marriage and who still reside on the coast. Her mother has always been a stay-at-home mom, while her father is a NASA rocket scientist. When she was young, Daniel instilled the importance of education when he would often stay up late teaching her chemistry and physics.
 
Dottie’s love of painting brought the artsy side to the mix. This mixture of science and art makes Jaimee a one-of-a-kind artist with an analytical style of thinking. She says she uses her brain to make decisions, not her heart.

Jaimee spent two years studying organic chemistry in college and made straight A's. However, she was never concerned with exact numbers enough to see this being her profession. She was the student who was a little too theatrical during class and had thoughts of something else in her future.
 
Her sister Michelle lives in Hawaii. She is Jaimee's best friend, and is a graphic designer and a wonderful belly dancer. Brother Gary Goad is a well-known local electrician here on the Gulf Coast.

As part of the graduating class of 1999 at Long Beach High School, Jaimee always enjoyed seeking the spotlight, first as a cheerleader and a singer. As a high school participant in the international exchange program in 1998, she traveled to Brazil. All she learned abroad helped to broaden her dynamics. Jaimee says, “In spirit, everyone knew me as Miss Brazil."
 
Jaimee has drawn strength from her husband Joel who has helped her appreciate the "typical Mississippian." Joel helped her to see that "we judge ourselves on how others judge us," she says.
 
This Hancock county couple lives by the simple belief that it is most important to pride ourselves on our strengths.

​"He is a fishing bayou rat," says Jaimee when she speaks fondly of her husband. “It took me 30 years to appreciate the ‘good ol' boy’-style man. Learning that who cares what people think? It's about how you feel."

"Joel knows how to treat me; he is a Southern gentleman, a provider for his family; he hustles as a businessman, and is an overall hard worker with strengths of the manly Mississippi man.”

​This is symbolic to Jaimee and instills state pride in her adventures and portrayal as Miss Issippi and MS Congeniality.

This busy couple are both in their thirties and are successful local business owners. Jaimee is celebrating a 10-year anniversary of Jaimee Designs Web Studio, located in Bay St. Louis. Joel has over 13 years invested in his local commercial and residential electrician business as contractor/owner of Dorris Electric Services of Bay St Louis.
 
Jaimee has been a member of the Rotary Club since 2013. She enjoyed helping fellow Rotarians to get the International Youth Exchange off the ground for Hancock County. Jaimee is fond of the program, knowing the attributes it created in her own experiences as an exchange student.
 
"I work for myself to give time for a clean, peaceful overall feeling for my family." Joel and Jaimee Dorris are celebrating their three-year wedding anniversary. They stay active with five children, ranging from ages 10 to 21 with Joel's kids from a previous marriage and Jaimee's biological son Micah (who can be spotted as boom mic operator and assistant in “MS Congeniality”).

 "I want to be that 90-year-old lady who is comfortable with me—always subject to change, to be even more fabulous!"  Constant change is a significant happening within Jaimee's life. "One day I'm eating meat; then one day I'm a vegetarian. That adds to my art element." This year she is excited to see a major transition bridging the family businesses together.
 
Jaimee is eager to share and lives by her own advice. "Each person's mission is different than everyone else. Inspired ideas are most important. The thing is to listen to your intuition. Oftentimes you must find your own way by listening to yourself.

"Everyone has their own path. Get to know yourself, what you do well. Sometimes, it is something special. Always trust who you are, naturally."

Over the past few months the Hancock County Tourism Bureau has been highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and also locals. This month we feature our final town, Bay St. Louis.
- photography by Ellis Anderson

The Bay of St. Louis was named in 1699 by the explorer Bienville because his expedition came upon the bay on the feast day of St. Louis.  The town itself, originally a village called Shieldsboro, took on the name of Bay St. Louis eventually and became the county seat of Hancock County.  

The Bay, as it’s called by locals, is known for its quaint style and hometown feel that many say brings the fictional town of Mayberry to mind. But Bay St. Louis has many other sides to its appeal. It has been voted in recent years among the top Coolest Small Towns and Charming Small Towns in the U.S. as well as the Best Small Art Community. Below, you'll find some of the reasons Bay St. Louis has earned those and other honors. 

The Bay St. Louis Bridge was named the winner of a national People’s Choice Award for its looks and functionality. The bridge’s popular walking/biking path is marked with line drawing bronze relief plaques inspired by works of local artists. Large pylons at both entrances of the bridge greet drivers, walkers and bikers with distinctive local artwork. The bridge, with its beautiful views of the water and beachfront, has hosted many 5K and walking events that draw hundreds of participants.

The bridge intersects the Bay St. Louis beachfront, which is split into two distinct sections. To the north, along Beach Boulevard, there are homes on one side and the seawall and piers on the other. The only building on the bay side is the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club, whose members host and have won many prestigious racing competitions.

Toward the south, where Beach Boulevard crosses Main Street, is the city's Historic District, (often called "Old Town") with its collection of shops, restaurants, art galleries and bars. In the last few years the city’s new multi=million dollar harbor has become an attraction in itself. A few blocks past Main Street are more beautiful beachfront homes and a concrete path that gives walkers and bike riders the ideal way to take in the scenery along with the sea breeze.

Anyone who drives, bikes or walks along the beach will see another unusual attraction, an Angel Tree located in front of Our Lady of the Gulf Church. After Hurricane Katrina, chainsaw artist Dayle Lewis designed and carved oak trees, casualties of the storm, into the shape of angels.

Lewis carved a total of four trees in Bay St. Louis: two on the beach and two in the historic Cedar Rest Cemetery. Cedar Rest is the location of a wonderful Halloween tradition presented by the Hancock County Historic Society in which residents present reenactments of some of the city’s interesting occupants who are buried there.

The Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor, which opened in 2014, has quickly become a favorite among boaters all over the South.  Marinas.com voted the Bay St. Louis Harbor as one of the Top Ten All-Around Marina winners in its 2015 Boater’s Choice Awards. 

The harbor has become home to some popular events including the annual Pirate Day in the Bay and Joes & Pro’s Fish Tournament, which attracts hundreds of participants and spectators. The Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier located on the east side of the Harbor is also popular for fishing and taking in the scenery along the waterfront.

The Main Street commercial district of Old Town Bay St. Louis consists of shops, galleries, restaurants, some occupying historic buildings. Old Town is always a hub of activities, including special events and parades. On the Second Saturday of each month, the Old Town merchants present an artwalk with gallery openings, live music and shopping specials that bring out residents and tourists to enjoy the fun. Each month there is a new theme and music venues, and local business "Hot Spots."

Starting at the Washington Street pier at the beach, a concrete walking/biking path runs along the beach and extends into the Waveland city limits. The path is popular for exercise or for just sitting on a bench watching the waves, the shorebirds and boats.

The centerpiece of the nearby Depot District is the Historic L & N Train Depot. According to the county’s Historic Society the original wooden depot was built in 1876.  Fifty years after the structure was completed, it was destroyed by a catastrophic fire. The new depot built in the Spanish Mission style was  completed in 1929. Its grounds are a park-like setting with a walking track, duck pond, picnic tables, a swing, small pavilion and large trees to provide shade.

The Depot houses the Hancock County Visitor Center and Tourism Bureau which provides information on events and attractions. Be sure to pick up the Historic Walking/ Biking Guide (or download/open the digital version on the Shoofly's Map page!)which contains the history of Tercentenary Park, the Hancock County Courthouse (built in 1911), Kate Labrano House (built in 1896), Old City Hall (built in 1905), and the Bay St. Louis Little Theatre (built in 1916).

Among the theatre's productions is the annual Stella Yelling Contest and Blues Event held in March as a tribute to Mississippi writer Tennessee Williams’ birthday.

Located on first floor of the Depot is the colorful Mardi Gras Museum dedicated to the Carnival celebration in Hancock County that dates back to 1896, when the first parade rolled in Bay St. Louis. The Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum is on the second floor of the Depot and honors the works of Moseley, a nationally known folk artist who lived Bay St. Louis. The museum contains a collection of her original paintings and is open six days a week. Admission is free.
 
The oak covered setting in the front of the Depot is the setting to several events throughout out the year. In the month of December the Depot grounds are lit up for the Snowflakes and Sugar Plums Festival, which kicks off with a Christmas Parade. The parade route borders the Old town area and ends at the depot with entertainment and activities for the kids.

In June, the depot grounds host one of the most unique events in the county, Midsummer Night’s Dream hosted by the Depot District Association. This is a free nighttime event with fairy contests, lights in trees and music.  For more information about all these events, check with Hancock County Tourism.

Rounding out the Depot District is The 100 Men Hall,  an historic blues music venue that has its own Blues Trail Marker from The Mississippi Blues Commission.

The first weekend in October the Bay steps back in time to host Cruisin’ the Coast, a 20-year old classic car event that attracts nearly 8,000 cars and thousands of car enthusiasts. The Bay St. Louis venue is the favorite of many cruisers who show off their prized vehicles along Beach Boulevard, in the Depot District and along Main Street.
 
For all events go to http://www.mswestcoast.org/ or come to the Visitor Center at 1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis.

Over the past few months the Hancock County Tourism Bureau has been highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and also locals. This month we feature Hancock County.

Hancock County is approximately 553 square miles (not including Stennis Space Center). The county line runs from Bayou Cadet to the Bay St. Louis Bridge up to Pearl River County line to the Louisiana state line. 

It’s home to the cities of Bay St. Louis (the county seat), Diamondhead and Waveland, as well as the communities of Kiln, Pearlington, Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore and Napoleon.

Stennis Space Center (SSC) facility covers 13,800 acres with an acoustical buffer zone of over 124,000 acres. It’s a unique scientific, governmental and corporate “city,” home to more than 40 organizations relating to the aerospace industry - with NASA being the largest.  The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) alone employees more than 1,000 civilian, military and contract personnel researching marine geosciences, oceanography and underwater acoustics.

Establishment of SSC began in 1961 when NASA needed a place to test the Apollo rocket engines that were used in the race to the moon.  More than 700 families were relocated in order to give the facility an enormous 125,000 acre acoustical buffer. Fabled rocket scientist Wernher von Braun often quipped "I don't know  yet what method we will use to get to the Moon, but I do know that we have  to go through Mississippi to get there!"

Today, Stennis Space Center is testing the RS-26 rocket engines that will help power manned missions to Mars and beyond.

At the INFINITY Science Center, one can explore earth, space and oceans. This muli-million-dollar science/visitor center thrills visitors with exhibits that range from a surrealistic gigantic Saturn rocket booster outside the building to an Immersion theatre that lets visitors experience that thrill of space travel.

On the grounds of INFINITY the 1,400 feet of Biome Boardwalk; this manmade boardwalk leads through the Stennis acoustic buffer zone.  According to the INFINITY website:

Guests can now meander their way along our 1,400 feet of Biome Boardwalk to explore four diverse habitats found in this region - Bayhead Swamps, Lowland Pines, Pitcher Plant bogs and an Upland Savannah. Interpretive signage educates visitors on the flora and fauna found in and around the boardwalk, including otters, Great Blue Herons, a variety of snakes, carnivorous plants, and even alligators! Two observation decks offer ideal wildlife viewing opportunities, or simply a place to relax and take in nature.

Visitors can also catch the Tram Tours (6-mile) along the Possum Walk Trail. The Possum Walk Trail (part of the 100-mile Heritage Trail) is a trail that marks the history of the predominately African-American Possum Walk community and other towns that existed in the area before the establishment of SSC.

For more information, go to the INFINITY website.

The 2016 Hancock County Fair harkens back to a time when families gathered from across the county once a year for a chance to experience sights, rides, food and games.  While the world has changed, the thrill of the fair has not.

The Hancock County Fair puts a spin on the food offerings by showcasing local restaurants, who serve up favorite dishes.  Traditional fair food – funnel cakes, candy apples, and cotton candy – will be available too. 
 
 Games on the fair midway let folks test their skills and strength, while amusement rides promise to thrill both kids and adults – if they dare. Livestock exhibits give city folk a chance to gander at cows, pigs and exotic chickens, while an authentic rodeo keeps excitement high.  
Live music this year by headliners Joe Diffie and John Anderson, includes a sizzling line-up with Category 6, Trent Ladner and Ross Grisham. 

For more information on this event go to the fair website.

For more information on these locations come to the Hancock Visitors Center at 1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis or visit the website.

How many of these activities have you experienced in your community?

In this five part series, Hancock County Tourism Bureau is highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and also locals. This month we feature Waveland.
- photos by Ellis Anderson, Ana Balka, Prima Luke

Waveland was originally part of old Shieldsboro (which later became Bay St. Louis), and was known as Montgomery Station and Grand Bend before attaining a charter to become a separate municipality with a mayor and ​board of aldermen in 1888.

From the beginning, it was a resort town and many New Orleans residents had summer homes here.  Today, Waveland is the only city on the Gulf Coast that prohibits commercial buildings on the beachfront, preserving its hometown feeling.

Buccaneer State Park (dedicated on January 1, 1976) is at the southwest end of Waveland abutting Beach Boulevard and features large moss-draped oaks and marshlands next to the Gulf of Mexico.

Use of this land was first recorded in the late 1700s. Some legends hold that the French Buccaneer, Jean Lafitte, inhabited the old Pirate House located a short distance from what is now the park. According to some sources the park site, also known as Jackson’s Ridge, was used as a base of military operations by Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans; oral tradition maintains that Jackson later returned to this area and built a house — Sea Song — on the land that is now Buccaneer State Park. Both of these locations are identified by historical Markers.

Along with 206 premium campsites with standard hookups, the campsite also has 70 beach sites, 25 primitive campsites, three large bathhouses, disk golf course, playground, pavilion rental, and nature trails.

The crown jewel is the 4.5-acre Buccaneer Bay Waterpark. The park is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Labor Day, and boasts Pirate’s Plunge and Plank Waterslides, Li’l Smugglers Cove, and Pirate’s Lagoon Wave Pool, which can generate up to eight different wave patterns.  It's splashing good fun for the entire family!  Season passes are available.

At the foot of Coleman Avenue (the principal business district thought out the years) is the Veterans Monument and Memorial Park, honoring the men and women of our Armed Forces.The story of the Veterans Memorial begins back at the turn of the Century.

The Waveland American Legion Post 77 Executive Committee was looking at its property on Coleman Avenue, with the intention of placing a lasting veteran’s memorial. Commander Russell Voorhies proposed that the Post approach the City of Waveland to receive permission to utilize the undeveloped Riff-Raff Jetty that was an extension of Coleman Avenue, Waveland’s Main Street.

The octagon-shaped centerpiece includes a lighted fountain and pool. Mississippi Power donated three streetlights, which were modified into flagpoles. Later, an American Flag Retirement burn pit (this pit is used to dispose of American flags in the most respectful way) was added near the water’s edge.

Since its founding, the Memorial has been a site for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Katrina Remembrance Day, and Veterans Day ceremonies, and some couples have chosen the park as a wedding venue. The upgraded grounds provide a powerful but peaceful, serene anchor to Coleman Avenue. Identified as the Veterans Memorial only by a Blue Star plaque and simple entrance pillars, the Memorial provides a fitting honor to those who have served.

The Memorial sits next to Garfield Ladner Fishing Pier, which reopened in mid-2015 after renovations from damage sustained in Hurricane Isaac. The concrete structure extends 860 feet into the water and is a popular site for fishermen. Good handicap access, picnic pavilions, and proximity to the Beach Boulevard bike/walk trail just add to the things we love about the pier, and Waveland is thrilled to have it up and running again.

Coleman Avenue was the principal business district before Hurricane Camille destroyed it in 1969. After it was revitalized, Hurricane Katrina wiped it out again in 2005. The new Waveland City Hall was dedicated in 2012 on the site of the original city hall, which was built between 1906 and 1908, originally as Waveland’s school. A mural designed by Elizabeth Veglia graces the front of the building, and replaces the Veglia mural that was lost when the former city hall fell to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The new mural includes scenes and landmarks – both pre- and post-Katrina – as well as the ocean, the wildlife and the things that make this area special. The design takes its inspiration from the Waveland logo and the undulating waves within it. Veglia has conducted 26 workshops with local volunteers to create it.
 

 Waveland Ground Zero Hurricane Museum: Hurricane Katrina has been called the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.  Waveland, Mississippi was Ground Zero.  Waveland’s Ground Zero Museum recalls the disaster, but also shows visitors how the Waveland community came together to rebuild the town they loved in its aftermath.

See this month’s Talk of the Town article on the museum to learn more about H.C. Porter’s “Backyards and Beyond” exhibit, Solveig Wells’s Katrina quilts, and the collection of art and Waveland memorabilia that comprise this tribute to our town.

The museum is open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free. Waveland’s Ground Zero Museum relies completely on grants, donations, and membership to finance operations.

The Krewe of Nereids, a women’s carnival association, was established in 1966. The Nereids Parade happens each year two Sundays before Mardi Gras, and takes Highway 90 from Bay St. Louis to Waveland. It originally paraded on Coleman Avenue, but grew so large that it was forced to move.

The Waveland Civic Association hosts the annual St. Patrick’s Parade the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). After Hurricane Katrina the parade was moved to Highway 90. In 2012, after the opening of the new city hall, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned to Coleman Avenue.

2012 brought the first Halloween Trunk or Treat. Area businesses and civic groups set up tables and give out candy and other treats to children (and their parents). There's face painting, a cake walk, a haunted house and a booth decorating contest. With Coleman Avenue closed off to traffic it gives the kids a safe place to enjoy the festivities. 

This year the City of Waveland presents Destination Waveland Independence Day Blowout. Be a part of the most explosive fireworks show and July 4th celebration on Mississippi's West Coast. Brought to you by the City of Waveland and generous community sponsors, this event will happen Saturday, July 2, 2016, 5-9 p.m. at the Garfield Ladner Pier.

An intense fireworks show, music by Category 6 and a patriotic coastal menu are on tap for enjoyment. The red, white and blue carpet is being rolled out to make Waveland one of your holiday weekend destinations.

Over the next 5 months the Hancock County Tourism Bureau will be highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and also locals. This month we feature the Kiln community.

Kiln is located just north of Waveland and I-10 and west of the City of Diamondhead. Many kilns — used in the production of pine tar — once dotted the area, which in the late 19th century was a timber industry boomtown. Prior to the early 1910s the area we know as Kiln or “the Kiln” was referred to as the Jourdan River Community, but since at least the 1880s it has been known as Kiln, and by 1913 the name Kiln was firmly established.
 
The community of Kiln offers a variety of restaurants, bars and shops. The Kiln is known worldwide for being the hometown of Brett Farve. It’s also famous for its old-time horse Christmas parade, and was home to some of the best moonshine during the 1920s prohibition. Below are some of the main attractions in the Kiln.

During World War II the Hancock County Airport (as it was then known) was used as an auxiliary training airfield supporting the Army Pilot Training School at Gulfport Army Airfield. It eventually opened for civil use in May 1970.
   
The Airport’s Million Air fixed base operator (FBO) offers a full complement of capabilities and amenities including DLA-approved aviation fuel and ground services, Jet-A-Way Café, hospitality bar, theater room, pilot lounges, conference rooms, flight planning room and onsite Hertz Rent-a-Car. Have lunch with friends in the Jet-A-Way Café.
 
Stennis International Airport is a public use airport in Hancock County. For more information, click here.

Lazy Magnolia is Mississippi’s oldest packaging brewery, and the first one since prohibition was enacted in 1907. They’ve been offering locally brewed beer to Mississippians since they were founded in September of 2003.
 
Lazy Magnolia’s one-hour educational tour with complimentary souvenir pint glass gets a top rating on Trip Advisor. Each paying guest may try up to 6 different brews during the tour with their $10 admission. When accompanied by a paying guest, designated drivers or minors under the age of 21 receive free admission.
 
Lazy Magnolia has a First Friday event each month that draws visitors from all over the region. Come enjoy music, food and the occasional chance to taste a new beer. For more information on this event or to set up a tour, go to their website. 
 
Lazy Magnolia Brewery: 7030 Roscoe Turner Road. 228-467-2727. 

​McLeod Park is a campground located on the Jourdan River in Kiln operated and maintained by the Hancock County Board of Supervisors. The park has boating, hiking, and a playground, plus campsites with showers and a store. The park offers pavilion and golf cart rentals.
McLeod Park boast the largest Halloween party in the county. Campers and park visitors enjoy trick-or-treating from campsite to campsite. Patrons decorate their RVs, and park employees create a fun atmosphere for all.
 
McLeod Park: 8100 Texas Flat Road. (228) 467-1894.

​Hancock County Multi-Purpose Arena hosts fairs, rodeos, livestock shows, food and music festivals, barrel racing, team roping, sports motocross, dog shows and more! 

The covered outdoor arena sits on 80 acres and has a sound system, seating capacity of approximately 2800, concession areas, restrooms, announcers stand, a lighted outside livestock barn, and camper hookups.
 
One of the largest events that take place at the arena is the Hancock County Fair. The Fair brings back the history of county fairs and celebrates community heritage with live entertainment, midway games and rides, arts and crafts vendors, a rodeo for all ages, livestock, and offerings from local restaurants along with traditional fair food stands. This year the fair is September 21-24. See www.hancockcountyfair. The Hancock County Arena is located at 4184 Kiln-Delisle Road.
 
For more information on the arena go to www.hancockcountyms.org.

​The Hancock Performing Arts Center (HPAC), adjacent to Hancock County Middle School on Stennis Airport Drive, is an extension of the district's educational mission and a result of an effort to provide “meaningful opportunities in drama, music, dance, writing, and film” for area youth and the community.
 
The Center’s website states a mission of “entertaining and educating the community.... A child’s educational development should include the performing arts to enhance his/her intellectual development. In addition, unique opportunities should be offered for everyone in the community to explore the arts through educational programs throughout the year.”
 
The $8.2 million center officially had its grand opening on February 20 this year, and this spring featured a staging of “Little Shop of Horrors,” a concert with 1950s rock-n-roller Bobby Rydell, and Hancock County School District music performances.
 
The facility houses a 500-foot orchestra pit, over 2,000 square feet of lobby area complete with gallery-style hanging system, and a spacious backstage makeup and dressing room. The center also has a catering kitchen fully equipped to accommodate guests. Visit their site or find them under “Hancock Performing Arts Center” on Facebook.

How many of these activities have you tried in your community?
For more information about the county go to www.mswestcoast.org

Over the next 5 months the Hancock County Tourism Bureau will be highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and locals. This month we feature the city of Diamondhead!

 Diamondhead is conveniently located between New Orleans and Gulfport/Biloxi at Exit 16 of I-10 and near all area attractions. The public is welcome in Diamondhead, which offers Tennis World, golf, Diamondhead Marina, Diamondhead Airport, dining, and parks and recreation. The City of Diamondhead offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops. Click here for a list of Diamondhead businesses.

Warmer weather means outdoor festivals with music, food and family fun straight through to winter on the Mississippi Coast!  April happenings are just the beginning!

Hancock Tourism helps pull together a community team that left a showstopping impression on Amtrak and state officials.
- photography by Ellis Anderson

Ride along with Hancock Tourism and find out how groups of visitors on "tour buses" get to know our town!

As Hancock County Tourism blossoms into spring we look forward to motor coach season, the time of year groups from all over the country visit our area to enjoy the mild weather and our amenities.  Most of these visitors come in large motor coaches - or "tour buses" - which you will see around town.

These visitors start from their home towns and travel to Hancock County, sometimes from as far away as Connecticut. The groups generally spend four nights in the area. They tour Bay St. Louis one day, spend a day in the Biloxi area, and then go to New Orleans.

A typical Bay St. Louis day begins at the Historic Depot Visitor Center. Visitors Center concierge Susan Duffy welcomes the guests with information on the Hancock County area and a typical Mardi Gras greeting with beads, and they meet their tour guide for the day. Our lead tour guide is Jane Byrne.

The tour begins with the Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum on the first floor of the depot. The museum features elaborate costumes from the Krewe of Nereids, a video of Mardi Gras balls, and a collection of regional Mardi Gras memorabilia.  

The Blues in Mississippi display is also on the first floor, along with video and a display about our brush with Hollywood, the 1966 film “This Property is Condemned."  Also available, are self-guided tour in the Depot District, complete with maps.
 
The tour continues upstairs with the Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum, which honors our nationally acclaimed folk artist, humorist, and storyteller.  The museum features video of Miss Alice telling her jokes and stories, as well as a large collection of majolica, art pottery, art glass, and a wide range of collectible Americana donated by Alice's son, Tim.

After the group boards the bus, they are off on a 1½-hour tour of the Bay St. Louis area. First stop is a guided tour of St. Rose de Lima Catholic Church, where visitors may light candles for loved ones, admire the craftsmanship in the church, and enjoy the serenity of their surroundings.

The tour then heads back to the depot district, where guides will point out the Bay St. Louis Community Center, the historic Little Theatre, St. Stanislaus College, and examples of regional architecture. 

The next stop is at Dale Lewis’s sculpture, “Angel Tree.” Here visitors can enjoy the view from the seawall and hopefully watch a train cross the train bridge. “Angel Tree” is one of the most photographed things on the tour. 

After leaving the sculpture, the tour cruises through Old Town, where the guide will point out local restaurants and shops. The group gets off the motor coach and enjoys two hours of free time for shopping and lunch.  At the end of the day, the visitors regroup on the bus for a trip to one of our local casinos for dinner and gaming.

As lead guide Jane Byrne points out, “Besides showcasing our community, these motor coach tours have a huge economic impact on our area, whether it be shopping, gaming, or dining.”

So next time someone asks you what those buses are doing around town you can say, “Economic growth!”

 Hancock County Tourism looks back on 2015 with satisfaction and toward 2016 with anticipation!
 - photos by Ellis Anderson

One of the joys of preparing this report is that it gives us the opportunity to look back and be thankful for all that has been accomplished.  The past year was filled with wonderful opportunities and many challenges. The BP-funded advertising print and radio ads were very successful to bring visitors to our area.

Some of the highlights were:

• Stella Blues and BBQ Festival
• Pirate Day in the Bay
• St. Claire Seafood Festival
• Our Lady of the Gulf Crab Fest
• Harbor Fest
• Diamondhead Arts & Crafts Show
• Hancock County Fair
• St. Rose de Lima Heritage Festival
• Monthly events :
  • Bay St. Louis Old Town Second Saturday
  • Lazy Magnolia Brewery First Friday

We also co-sponsored events this year such as:

• Old Town Bay St. Louis Souper Mudfest
• Gulf Coast Regional USA Beach Volleyball tournament held in Waveland

 
Primary Sponsorships for the year were:

• Midsummer Night's Dream Festival in the Historic Depot District
• WGNO News with a Twist
• Crusin' the Coast 2015 in Bay St. Louis
• Snowflakes in the Bay Brochure( listing Hancock County Holiday Events)
• 8th Annual Bay St. Louis Christmas Parade
• Snowflakes and Sugarplums Festival

We were happy to award the Hancock County Tourism Award to Friends of McCloud Park at the 2015 Hancock County Gala. Tourism hosted a dedication reception for the Alice Moseley Pavilion located in the Depot green space. And we welcomed guests from all over the world to the Visitor Center and Mardi Gras Museum.

In 2015 we welcomed over 18,000 guest to our Visitor Center and Mardi Gras Museum; we also  hosted 12,000 Motor Coach Tours and Convention groups from 48 different states and 36 foreign countries. With the increase of foreign visitors to our state, we were lucky to host many European travel writers and members of the press.
 
As the year comes to a close, I would like to express thanks to the Hancock County Tourism Staff and all of those volunteers who labored long and hard to make all of this (and much more) happen.

We would also like to welcome our new board members for 2016.  Finally, we would like to thank the Board for their guidance and support in 2015.  Recognizing the important role of tourism, we will continue to identify and target best-potential customers and inspire them to travel Hancock County Mississippi in 2016.
 
Myrna Green, Manager
Hancock County Tourism Bureau

The festival will bring holiday fun to the whole family with Dream Castle Bounce Village, H&H Express Train, Hollywood Casino Sugarplum Village, Christmas music and the return of Silver Slipper Casino Stage with live music from Roman Street. Special appearances by Santa Claus, Rudie the Reindeer, and Queen Elsa!
 
Festival-goers will notice the new Alice Moseley Pavilion on the grounds of the depot during the event.  Last month Hancock Tourism hosted a reception for honored guests and visitors who attended the dedication. The pavilion is part of an on-going effort by the Friends of Alice Moseley Museum to honor both Miss Alice and the city.

A report from Hancock Tourism Development Bureau - looking back at the month of October and ahead to the holiday season! 
- by Latonja Ervin, photos by Ellis Anderson

Hancock County Tourism Bureau had a wonderfully successful fall. We started the season with the Hancock County Fair (September 23-26) and the St. Rose de Lima Food and Music Festival (October 3).

These events were advertised on radio and TV by the Hancock County Tourism Bureau with a grant from Visit Mississippi.

We kicked off October with a live broadcast of WGNO’s “News with a Twist.” This broadcast covered the greater New Orleans area and south Louisiana. The show aired live at the Bay St. Louis Train Depot on October 7 after the production crew spent several weeks filming highlights of Bay St. Louis attractions. Some of the highlights were dining on the bay overlooking our award-winning municipal harbor, inspiring art in St. Rose Church, and charter fishing in the bay.

This event was sponsored by the Hancock County Tourism Bureau through a grant from BP.

Just a day later, Tourism geared up for the Gulf Coast’s biggest event: Cruisin’ the Coast 2015, October 5-10. Hancock County event days were Wednesday in Diamondhead (with the “Blessing of the Classics”) and Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Bay St. Louis.

This annual event brings over seven thousand cars to the area and generates revenue for gas stations, restaurants, retail business and car repair shops. This year’s event broke the record with over 7,600 cars. We can’t wait to top the record next year!

Bay St. Louis events were sponsored by the Hancock County Tourism Bureau and Cruisin’ the Coast.

Next we look forward to the holiday season with the Christmas parade on December 5. The parade will take you on a magical holiday ride though all the snowflakes in Old Town Bay St. Louis, ending in the Depot District with the “Snowflakes and Sugarplums” festival. The fest will be from noon–5 p.m. and will feature holiday music, Santa Claus and live music by Roman Street. For more details go to www.mswestcoast.org, on the Cleaver Community Calendar page - and on the Cleaver's Upcoming Events page!